Busting Brackets
Fansided

A week to establish a reputation for Belmont basketball

By Harry Schroeder

Belmont's Grayson Murphy (2) dribbles the ball as the Belmont Bruins play the Eastern Kentucky Colonels during their semifinal game of the Ohio Valley Conference Championships at Ford Center Friday evening, March 6, 2020.Ovc Belmontvseku 11
Belmont's Grayson Murphy (2) dribbles the ball as the Belmont Bruins play the Eastern Kentucky Colonels during their semifinal game of the Ohio Valley Conference Championships at Ford Center Friday evening, March 6, 2020.Ovc Belmontvseku 11 /
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NCAA Basketball
Nick Muszynski #33 of the Belmont Bruins (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

Confidence building for the Bruins

There are critical times during a season when a team’s confidence is shaken and needs to be restored. After a one-sided loss and three difficult rivals to play in four days, a season can get away from a team and a coach in a hurry.

Alexander’s veteran team shouldn’t be susceptible to such a downturn, but earning at least one victory in Kissimmee, Florida is critical. Beyond the three possible adversaries we know of, the other four teams the Bruins could face on Sunday are teams with talent and winning traditions.

Graduate students Muszynski, Murphy, and Smith are integral to keeping this team on track and willing the other Bruins to a critical win or two during the ESPN Events Invitational. Their ability to reestablish confidence and a belief in their ability to defeat an upper-level opponent is critical. Those leadership roles can be both subtle or demonstrative, but the leadership ability of those three players is critical right now.

Muszynski needs assert himself on both ends of the floor. The 6’11 postman was offensively non-existent against LSU and his presence could easily change the nature of a game with Drake. The Bulldogs like to drive to the basket at one end and ‘Moose’ is taller than the Drake post players and should be able to score inside.

Drake, Alabama, and Iona are all undefeated and were NCAA Tournament teams last season. Alabama (15), Drake (54), Iona (148) and Belmont (74) are all upper half teams in the KenPom ratings, so these games are circled on all four teams’ calendars.

Alexander’s record (55-13 at Belmont and 193-132 overall) is impeccable and he will manage his team well. The former Bruin player and disciple of hall-of-famer Rick Byrd knows which buttons to push and how to motivate his players, but this is a challenging stretch for the OVC power.